3ds max 4 Bible (Paperback)

~ Kelly L. Murdock (Author) "When you first got your hands on 3ds max 4, you were probably focused on one goal - to create cool 3D images and animations..." (more)
Key Phrases: parameters rollout, subobject mode, ifl file, Material Editor, Schematic View, Modifier Stack (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

More than 100 step-by-step tutorials give you valuable hands-on experience under the expert guidance of 3D master, Kelly Murdock. Increasingly complex scenes will prove useful to all 3D MAX users, from beginners to advanced. 3ds max 4 Bible will help you learn and master the most popular 3D modeling and animation software.

From the Back Cover

If 3ds max 4 can do it, you can do it, too … Take 3ds max 4 to the max — and join the ranks of the pros who've created animations for some of today's hottest games, movies, and TV shows. Packed with expert advice, time-saving tips, and more than 150 step-by-step tutorials, this all-in-one guide gets you up to speed quickly on the basics — and provides expanded coverage of advanced techniques. With incisive insights into the next-generation enhancements to 3ds max, 16 pages of full-color examples, and a CD-ROM featuring exclusive plug-ins, it's just what you need to take your animations to the next level.See the CD-ROM appendix for details and complete system requirements.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 1312 pages
• Publisher: Wiley (August 15, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764535846
• ISBN-13: 978-0764535840
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.6 x 2.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,191,227 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

63 of 63 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Literally, Step-By-Step, December 27, 2001

By	Marcus Olson (Eagan. MN) - See all my reviews

First, let me give you a brief description of my background. I'm a experienced 2D artist with applications like Photoshop and Illustrator. I've been doing 2D art for a few years, I figured its about time I transitioned to 3D. I purchased 4 books on 3D Studio Max. "Inside 3D Studio Max 4" , "3D Studio Max 4 Bible", "Modeling a Character in 3DS Max" and last, and least "3D Studio Max 4 Indepth". I recommend all these books except the last mentioned, its some kind of mix of intermeidate information at a begginers level. Nevermind that though.

3D Studio Max 4 Bible has been a excellent book, I've only read about half of it but so far its proved to be a excellent reference and tutorial based book. Some of the tutorials are a little to simple, but the author is trying to make sure you know exactly what hes talking about, and that you fully understand it. So simple isn't bad. At times its flow is a little disorianted meaning its hard to read a chapter and then say "Oh!, I want to try that" because its a little different then that. It goes into each aspect of 3Ds Max and lays out what each button and tool does. If your BRAND NEW to 3D Studio max and 3D Modeling in general this book is unmatched. I think my mom, having no computer knowledge what so ever, could sit down and follow the tutorials and create a spinning couch in a mater of a few hours, and understand exactly how she did it. Its a great book. At times you'll find your self yawning because it goes so into detail, but months from now, when your doing your first big scene your going to be happy you read that chapter on viewport configuring, because if you didn't your not going to realize "Hey!, theres a easier way to do this" and so on and so on. Plus if you skim the book because your so excited to make your 3D logo/character and you get lost while doing so, you can flip to the chapter that pertains to your question and it will start right from the beggining on that topic. Through out the whole book it rarely references back to something you previously read to make the writing easier, it always uses the menu standards so you don't get lost, ie File->Views->so on and so on. I'm in love, I haven't put the book down yet, but I will admit sometimes I find my self getting itchy fingers and paging ahead to the more advanced chapters on editing mesh's etc.

Anyways, I suggest this book to Absolute Begginers or people looking for an Excellent Reference book for all the commands/buttons/options that 3Ds Max has. If you really want to master 3Ds Max your going to need to purchase other books like Inside 3Ds Max 4 by New Riders publishing, books like those skip the "how to use the interface" type chapters and tutorials and move into the more advanced methods of doing things.

But remember, this will only teach you how to use the pencil, no book will ever teach you how to be a good artist, thats what imagination and patentice is for.

17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Almost perfect ...for beginners that is..., February 3, 2002

By	"step_jack" (Boston) - See all my reviews

I based this book on the reviews from the users here on AMAZON, and I must say that they were accurate.

Here is what I've found after flipping through this book for about a week now:
It is an indispensible reference when it comes to things like "hey, what is this little button here?" or "how do I get to that particular rollout again?" You will not find insight into WHY you would use certain functions, you will only find WHAT they do. To reach the enlightened level of a 3D PROFESSIONAL, you are going to have to go to other books.
This book has a tutorial on nearly EVERY page, but these tutorials are JUST for the section you find them in, and do not go anywhere beyond the basics. THIS IS NOT A BAD THING! You just need to realize that this is a REFERENCE book, nothing more.

If you are one of those people who don't know what all the menus and buttons are for and want to learn THE BASICS of MAX 4 while sipping Scotch on your couch and not staring at a computer screen reading the help file, by all means, get this book.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book, a sigh of relief!, April 10, 2002

By	Mat Brummitt (UK) - See all my reviews

I'd just like to say that i am extreamly pleased to have bought this book. I am a begginer to 3d Max, and i have bought books on max's previous release (3) and have not understood much of what i was being "tought"... with this book, it has set me on the way and has made me more than competant, while making me understand most of what i have read. Im no professional, but this book has made me feel at ease, and like i am starting to know the program now, and how it all works....

i reccomend this book to anybody who is new to the program and who could use a reference book.